Facing a strike threat from workers' unions over the divestment issue, Coal India management has assured trade unions to take up the matter with the government.
"Policy related decisions like disinvestment in CIL ... will be taken up at government level," Coal India management apprised a delegation of four trade unions in a meeting today.
Demanding withdrawal of the disinvestment process or de-nationalisation of the world's largest coal miner, workers affiliated to four unions INTUC, HMS, AITUC and CITU had slapped notice of a one-day strike/agitation on March 29.
Indian National Mineworkers Federation Secretary General S Q Zama said Coal India management convened the meeting with four central trade unions following a joint notice dated January 27 by CTUs -- INTUC, HMS, AITUC & CITU -- for agitation or one-day strike on March 29.
Trade unions are also demanding granting infrastructure status to coal industry, blanket exemption against deployment of contract workers under prohibited category jobs etc will be taken up at Government level.
As for CIL-related issues, consensus emerged that all sub committees of the Joint Bipartite Committee on Coal Industry (JBCCI) will be reactivated and concluded before June 30.
In November last year, the Cabinet approved 10 per cent stake sale in Coal India. The government currently owns 79.65 per cent stake in the company.
The 10 per cent stake sale in Coal India is likely to be deferred to the next fiscal as the government wants to wait for market stability for a better valuation, an official had earlier said.
